UTM student levy fees to undergo an increase for the 2026–2027 academic year — UTM Student Center 

Arunveer Sidhu, UTM Bureau Chief

Fees for full-time students will increase by $1.45 in the fall and winter semesters, and $1.41 in the summer, according to the UTMSU’s January 30 Board of Directors meeting. Part-time student fees will rise by $0.50 per semester. Most fee increases corresponded with the Consumer Price Index, which rose by 2.1 per cent in 2025.

UTMSU Executive Director Melissa Theodore said that the U-Pass fees could increase by up to nine per cent per semester, but noted that a three per cent increase was negotiated in “the contract.”

Additionally, the UTMSU Health and Dental fee could face up to a 10 per cent increase. This would raise the Health plan from $135.88 to up to $149.47, and the Dental plan from $108.42 to up to $119.262 per term for each student. 

In the event of a 10 per cent increase, the Health and Dental plan fees would rise by a total of $24.43 per term. Theodore assured the UTMSU that “it won’t go that high.”

Eglinton Crosstown LRT open as of Sunday — Eglinton Ave

Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

After 15 years of construction and $13 billion, the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) opened on Sunday, February 8. Also known as Line 5, the Crosstown runs for 19 kilometres along Eglinton Avenue, from Mount Dennis to Kennedy Station. The route offers connections to Line 1, Line 2, multiple GO Train stops, and 68 bus routes along the way.

During the first phase of Line 5’s soft opening, 24 trains will run between 5:30 am and 11:00 pm. Over the next three to six months, the line is expected to transition into full service, with 28 trains running and extended hours of operation.

Line 5 was originally scheduled to open in 2020 but faced delays due to technical issues. At a board meeting on February 3, TTC CEO Mandeep Lali announced Sunday morning’s opening following prodding from Mayor Olivia Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. 

Carney announces return of EV rebates, scraps federal EV mandate — Ottawa

Nguyen Bao Han Tran, Varsity Contributor

On February 5, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the federal government will restore consumer rebates for electric vehicles (EVs) as part of a new national automotive strategy.

The five-year incentive program will offer up to $5,000 for battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles and up to $2,500 for plug-in hybrids. The rebates will gradually decrease each year through 2030.

The government also said it will scrap its EV sales mandate, which required all new vehicles sold in Canada to be electric by 2035, replacing it with lower adoption targets and updated emissions standards.

The announcement comes as Canada’s auto sector faces economic pressures, including US tariffs. Automakers largely welcomed the return of incentives, while some environmental organizations raised concerns that the revised targets would weaken Canada’s climate goals.